Joan Kennedy, the ex-wife of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), was arraigned on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol after her car hit a chain-link fence along a Cape Cod beach road, authorities said today. She was driving a 1985 blue Buick along Craigville Beach Road in Centerville when she hit the fence at about 8 p.m. Tuesday, police said.

The clothed body of a man washed ashore in Malibu on Thursday, and Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies said it appeared he had drowned. Deputies said that the man had been tentatively identified, but that the identification was not being made public, pending verification and notification of next of kin. The body was found about 2:15 p.m. at about 30900 Broad Beach Road, deputies said.

A "Suddenly Single" seminar July 23 will discuss the financial implications for a person who is widowed or divorced. Sponsored by the Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation and the American Financial Network, it will be held at the Mandalay Beach Resort, 2101 Mandalay Beach Road, Oxnard, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. RSVP by Wednesday to Victoria Chandler at 648-9872.

Most drivers roar right by the red and white signs on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, but Pat Veesart slows down and calls them out one by one. "Almost guaranteed it's not a legitimate sign," says Veesart, a baseball cap pushed back on his head as he steers his rust-spotted Jeep down the highway. Veesart has a skilled eye for spotting suspicious "No Parking" signs. Take the bent metal sign propped up against a chain-link fence at Latigo Shore Drive, whose faded red lettering screams: "NO PARKING ANY TIME TOW AWAY.

September 13, 2009 | Donna Wares, Wares is the editor of the bestselling "My California: Journeys by Great Writers" and author of "Great Escapes: Southern California." Her new book, co-written with photographer Rick Rickman, is "The Wonder Years."

As a busy summer raced to an all-too-sudden close, my family and I eagerly headed up the coast for a quick and relaxing getaway to San Luis Obispo Bay, about an hour north of Santa Barbara. Our no-frills plan: three days of Central Coast grazing, gazing and beachcombing. Yes to sea kayaking and sleeping in. No to anyplace where shorts and sandals weren't welcome. We've spent some time in San Luis Obispo on other California road trips, but the laid-back college town midway between L.A. and San Francisco mostly has been an inviting green blur (and sudden flash of pink at the landmark Madonna Inn)

A Southern California Edison electrical cable malfunctioned Friday afternoon, causing a power outage that affected 3,517 customers, company officials said. The outage occurred about 3:30 p.m. and power was restored by 8 p.m. to all but 125 customers, said Glen Becerra, an Edison spokesman. Service to the remaining customers was expected to resume by 3 a.m. today.

A woman died Saturday during surgery after being struck by an Amtrak train in Dana Point, a sheriff's lieutenant said. Rail service was interrupted for more than an hour. The 39-year-old woman, whom authorities did not identify because her family had not been notified, was hit shortly before noon as the northbound train crossed Beach Road, said sheriff's Lt. Ted Boyne.

The Sand and Sea Club is honoring Norm Marshank for 19 years of organizing paddle tennis tournaments. Marshank will retire after this weekend when the the club, located at 415 Palisades Beach Road, hosts the National Mixed Paddle Tennis Championships. Last weekend, the team of Sol Hauptman and Rick Beckendorf won the Western U.S. Championship in men's devision play at the Sand and Sea Club. Carolyn Dadian and Kathy Paben won the women's division. Play will continue all day Saturday and Sunday.

A 39-year-old woman who died after being hit by an Amtrak train in Dana Point on Saturday may have been jogging with her headphones on, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Michele Parrott of Anaheim was hit shortly before noon as the northbound train crossed Beach Road. Parrott's family said she often parked her car near the beach and jogged, said Lt. Hans Strand, a sheriff's spokesman.